Beyoncé and Jay-Z Among Headliners at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100

Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization that targets extreme poverty, among other causes, today announced the lineup for its Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 2. Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Cassper Nyovest, Chris Martin, D’banj, Eddie Vedder, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, and Wizkid will perform at the festival, which will be cohosted by Naomi Campbell, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Bonang Matheba, Tyler Perry, and Forest Whitaker, and which honors the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year.

A number of world leaders are expected at the event, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa; Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, who delivered the 2017 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture; Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, who both serve as cochairs of the UN Secretary General’s Advocacy Group for the Sustainable Development Goals; Alexander De Croo, deputy prime minister of Belgium; former ambassador Ertharin Cousin, chair of Power of Nutrition; and Oprah Winfrey, who will deliver a keynote address.

Tickets to the festival are free, but only accessible through participating in Global Citizen actions, which, starting on August 21, include emailing world leaders, signing petitions, and using social media to generate commitments in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “The Mandela 100 campaign seeks to mobilize USD $1 billion in new commitments for the world’s poorest, with USD $500 million set to impact the lives of 20 million women and girls worldwide,” the organization’s press release explains, “these investments will be aimed at ending hunger and increasing access to good nutrition, ending neglected tropical diseases, reducing HIV/AIDS transmission rates, ensuring every child receives a quality education, leveling the law by reforming and repealing sexist laws, providing funding for women’s health and family planning, and ensuring access to clean water and safe sanitation world wide.” The aim is to follow in Mandela’s footsteps, and to end extreme poverty by 2030.